The Great Day of Judgment, Appendix – Publishers advertisement
AN APPENDIX Containing only ſome Heads of Meditation, on the DAY OF JƲDGMENT, more largely and fully delivered in a Sermon Preached at Charleſtown.
By the Reverend SAMƲEL LEE.
On Math. 25.6.
At Midnight there was a Cry.
THE Scope of a Parable is the beſt Expoſitor of it. The Deſign of this is to Expreſs, The Suddenneſs of our Lords Advent, and the Supidity and Security of the World with reference thereto.
Obſerve, Bleſſed Chriſtians, Three Things,
FIRST. A dolorous Exclamation, with the diſmal ſeaſon of it.
The out cry here, is like that of drowning-Marriners, or routed Souldiers.
SECONDLY. The matter of the Exclamation thus amazing, which cauſes all the great Hectors, and Herods, and Belſhazzars of the World, to tremble.
Yet it is not, Behold, the Judge Cometh! — but, — the Bridegroom, the Delight of our Souls.
Tis good Advice, Are you Ready! Dr. Ʋſher uſed to ſay unto ſome Perſons of Quality. Madam, Be ready, Be ready.
THIRDLY. A Command unto all, Eſpecially the Virgins, Go out to meet Him. Even Hypocrites count themſelves in a fair way to meet the Lord.
Of old, Marriage was at Midnight, to ſhow the Modeſty of Marriage. You are by Miniſters now Contracted, and are to be by Angels at laſt Conducted into Jeſus Chriſt.
The Ten Virgins are profeſſors of all Sorts. A Wiſe Virgin is a Soul that takes the ſeaſons of Grace, and is affected with the Beauty of Jeſus Chriſt. A: Fooliſh, is one, that regards not the Word of God. Midnight, is the End of the World, before the Morning of the Reſurrection. The Cry is an Angelical Voice: as ſoon as the Clock ſtrikes Twelve, then the Angel ſets his Trumpet to his mouth, and proclameth ſo.
The Apanteſis, — the Meeting here Expreſſed, is the Reſurrection. When the Earth and Sea too ſhall yield their Dead; and the very Entrails of the Fiſhes ſhall be raked by the Trident of the Archangel. Never was there ſuch a Terror as then will be! But the Saints are then led unto the Nuptial in the New Jeruſalem.
NOTE.
At the Coming of Jeſus Chriſt to Judgment, the whole World ſhall be in a ſtate of great Security, and Inſenſibility of His Coming.
I. There ſhall be a Great Day of Judgment. How many Warnings have you had about this Day of the Lord? But alas, How many of the then Raiſed, ſhall ſay, Non Putaram; or, This I thought not of! which is a ſign of a great Fool.
Oh that we could be like Jerom: alwayes having a, Come to Judgment, in our Ears! believe you all make a Day of Judgment, an Article of your Creed. Why, The Heathen had a ſenſe of it.
II. Near and At that very times, there ſhall be a deadly Stupefaction in the World. As to ſit under Night-Shade, breed a Stupor.— This will be the Effect of being in the Night ſhade Walks of the World:
How are moſt of us aſleep? ſo that one can hardly get ſo much at any good Diſcourſe on foot among us. See Math. 24.39 And knew not till the Flood came and took them all away; ſo ſhall alſo the Coming of the Son of man be.— Remember that on your Knees—
¶ This comes from want of Conſideration God ſays, O that they would Conſider! See Pſal. 119.59. Tis ſaid, They Conſidered not for their Hearts were hardened. No Hammer can break this ſtone but Gods. Tis only Gods Fire and Vinegar, that can cauſe the Nether Milſtone of our Hearts to Crack. And it works in Conſideration. Conſideration is the Glory of a man; and it would be our Happineſs. But for Inconſiderateneſs,
This comes,
1. From an Innate Inclination. People be not of Thinking Spirits. They are for Paſtime. Oh dreadful Word! a Word for the Divel to put into our Hearts.
The Fatneſs of Heart ſpoken of by Iſaiah is mention'd Six times in the New Teſtament. No Text of the Old Teſtament ſo often cited Which is to be thought on.
Blood is ſometimes Congealed, like a Serpent in the Heart. Such Hearts have we!
Men are againſt Prick't Hearts; though the Corruption cannot otherwiſe come out,— but the Divels will …uck their Blood for ever.
2. From a Judicial Obſignation. God ſays, to His Miniſters, Go Preach at ſuch a place, and harden the People there.
Oh with upl…fted Hands beg. Lord, let me not be Sealed up under this hardneſs. This Hardneſs will be turned into ſhrieks in Hell. See Exod. 9.10. From this Hardneſs tis, that men will Scoff at a Little Expreſſion of a Miniſter,— but every ſuch Scoff ſhall coſt you a Thouſand years in Hell. This Nigrum Theta, marks for Hell.
3. From a Confaederation with Sin, and with Sinners. Tis not our Cannot, but our Will not, that undo's us. Famous Fenner ha's Writ well of this Self-Murder. Sinners, as Cleopaira, take the Aſp of Inconſiderateneſs, and put it to their Breaſts.
And Sinners harden one another— They are for a Prieſt that will be Drunk with them; and for a faithfull Preacher, they think, much Learning ha's made him mad.
They are as Pſal. 50. end.
So I ſhould come to our Saviours Queſtion, What do ye more than others?
III. But our Lord ha's given us a gracious Premonition about the Day of Judgment —
You have the Voice of the Archangel now in your Ears.
God forewarns,
1. By notable foregoing Judgments:
Every Feavour is a warning of the Fire of Hell, — Every Dropſy is a Warning of the River of Styx. Every cauſualty is a Warning.
Have you not been ſick? and ſaid, If God ſpare me, I will be better? Well ſaid, Pharaoh.—
Have you not heard of the late Earth quakes in Italy? and one at New-Haven lately? Have you not Rumours of War with the lygre Heathen? — Our Saviour ſpeaks of theſe things as Warnings.
2. By Miniſterial Denunciations.
As Loud as I can, I tell you all in the further Corners yonder, The Day of Judgment is Coming!
And
3. By Angelical Miniſtration.
We have their Inward Workings on our Spirits. We have Heavenly Infuſions from them, — and we have Operations of Gods Holy Spirit. The Knock then is, as in Rev. 3.20. Behold, I ſtand at the Door, and Knock: if any man hear my Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſ…p with him, and he with me.
Beſides this, Near the Time, the Voice of the Son of God ſhall be heard through the Whole World, l…ke the Roaring of the Sea. This is when the Judgment is juſt beginning, And …e Angels ſhall Trumpet with a greater Noiſe than that at Sina…
Upon the whole,
Obſerve, and Bewayl the horrible Stupidity of the World.
The Inconſiderate ſoon grow Debauched. Speak to them of Judgments, they will kick and ſay, Out be gone, you Hypocrite. Well, The Divel is in that Tongue.
Lament theſe, as Monica did her, Filium tot Lacrymarum; Be much with God for them. Leave not until God ſtrike the Arrow of His Loveing Vengeance into their Hearts.
What if this Bible be Gods Word, Sinners, Where are you then?—As in the ſtory of the Hermite.
Remember, The Seaſons of Grace are ſew; — When the Spirit of God comes nigh to the Heart.
And row, Take ſome Antidotes againſt ſecurity.
Antidote. I.
Conſider the Wonderful Suddenneſs … Day of Judgment.
… …at if you Dy, before you go … of the Aſſembly? A Laſt Day …ill come. Who knows which Pal… Mors will take firſt?
Antidote, II.
Conſider, As our Lord comes like Theef, like Lightening; ſo the ſent…nce will be Irreverſible, and the Judg…ent Unavoidable.
Gold will not bribe Charon. The Wicked ſhall not ſtand in Judgment, — but they ſhall be there.
Antidote. III.
Conſider, the Impoſſibility of Eſcape… Judgment is paſt. There can … no Writ of Error, no Appeal.
Think on Eternity; and let the …preſſions of it, be kept in the Ima…ation of the Thought of your Hearts … ever.
FINIS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
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By the Reverend Cotton Mather.
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End of the text · Samuel Lee, The Great Day of Judgment (1692)